Collective Intentionality, Language, and Normativity: A Problem and a Possible Solution for the Analysis of Cooperation

In this paper I discuss Searle's analysis of social ontology in the light of his account of the sources of normativity as rooted in the logical structure of language. I conclude that, though his theory of normativity may appear to be inconsistent with his theory collective intentionality, it is really our Background sense of the other that creates a sense of community even before the actual functioning of collective intentionality and language, thereby escaping the dilemma between individualism and collectivism.